Director Raj Kapoor
· Cast Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Nadira
· Released 1 Jul 1955
India Nett
₹1.1 Cr
After GST
Overseas
₹₹0.4 Cr
International gross
Budget
₹0.25 Cr
Production cost
Boxoffy VerdictAll-Time Blockbuster
Shree 420 is classified as an All-Time Blockbuster — Boxoffy's highest verdict, reserved for films that permanently altered the commercial landscape of Indian cinema. With ₹1.1 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹0.25 Cr, representing a 440% return on production cost, it belongs to a small elite of films that transcend their release year and enter the cultural record. An All-Time Blockbuster does not just recoup costs — it redefines what a successful film can be.
Boxoffy Read
Shree 420 gave Hindi cinema its most durable anthem — 'Mera Joota Hai Japani' became the signature song of newly independent India's complicated relationship with modernity, patriotism and the temptations of the city. Raj Kapoor understood that the migrant's journey from village to Bombay was the defining story of post-Partition India, and he told it with a lightness that made the sadness bearable. The film is essentially a moral fable dressed as a musical, and it holds its shape better than most films from any era.
Financial AnalysisBox Office vs Budget
Shree 420 was reportedly made on a budget of ₹0.25 Cr. Against that investment, the film collected ₹1.1 Cr India nett — a 4.4x multiple on production cost and a 440% return on the reported budget.
Break-even at the Indian box office typically requires approximately 1.5x the production budget once prints, advertising and distribution costs are factored in — placing the break-even threshold for Shree 420 at roughly ₹0 Cr India nett. The film cleared this threshold, resulting in the All-Time Blockbuster verdict.
₹0Break-even ~₹0 Cr₹1.1 Cr collected
Frequently Asked Questions
Shree 420 is classified as a All-Time Blockbuster by Boxoffy. The film collected ₹1.1 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹0.25 Cr. The film was commercially profitable.
Shree 420 collected ₹1.1 Cr India nett at the box office. The India nett figure represents collections after GST extraction, as reported by Box Office India and cross-referenced with Sacnilk and Pinkvilla.
Shree 420 released in 1955 and is likely available on major Indian streaming platforms. Check Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, ZEE5 and SonyLIV for current availability, as OTT rights shift periodically.
Shree 420 was directed by Raj Kapoor. The 1955 Hindi film earned a All-Time Blockbuster verdict at the Indian box office, collecting ₹1.1 Cr India nett.